If we were having coffee I’d tell you how glad I am that spring is in the air. I don’t know if it’s this getting older business or if it really was that much worse this year, but I found this winter was dreadfully, painfully long.

Around here, there’s still lots of snow on the ground but with above-freezing daytime temps, it won’t be long now before the trees are budding and flowers are blooming.

Happy sigh… 🙂

I’d tell you that my novella writing course is done. It gave me some great ideas and encouragement to push forward with my story. For now though, I’m taking a break. I’ve signed up for a five week Fashion Photography course that starts in May. In the meantime the entire month of April and then probably the rest of summer is going to be about slowing down and relaxing.

If we were having coffee I’d tell you that despite some serious foot dragging I finally got my Ice Hotel post written. It took me a month to sort through the 350+ photos and then bang out the post. I have to admit I struggled keeping it to under 1500 words. I’m a little long-winded by nature and there was so much I wanted to write about! I’m sure glad I finally got it done though, because it ended up being my most popular post in March.

I’d ask you what you thought of my inaugural Thursday Doors link-up post. If you follow my photography you may have noticed that I have thing for doors. Every Thursday I post door pics and sometimes a few others have joined in. A number of people have mentioned how much they like the idea so hopefully we’ll get more folks to play along as time goes by.

I would also tell you how grateful I was to everyone who participated in this first link-up edition, including those who liked, re-tweeted, or shared our posts. The encouragement is very much welcome as we try to get this feature off the ground, so please feel free to jump in and post one of your own favorite doors any time between Thursday and Saturday each week.

Admittedly it wasn’t the rousing success I was hoping for, but realistically I didn’t start promoting it until about 36 hours before the first post. I guess still have a lot to learn about this blogging thing, but I’m confident we’ll have a better turn out in the weeks to come.

And in the interest of full disclosure I’d tell that I can’t take credit for the idea; Thursday Doors was actually started by my blog/twitter buddy That Montreal Girl last summer. I joined in not long after she started it and have been posting Thursday Doors ever since. A number of times we had discussed the possibility of trying to make a regular feature of it. Since she stepped away from her blog a while back I decided to keep going with it, though I sure wish she was around to help; some of her doors were quite impressive.

If we were having coffee I’d bounce a few ideas off you for some photography projects I have in mind. One in particular is kinda morbid, using a series of shirtless self-portraits focusing on my scars from my heart surgery, pacemaker…etc. Using the right lighting techniques I want to tell a story of perseverance and resilience.

I’ve taken some preliminary test shots and I found that the images are quite powerful and perhaps a little disturbing. It’s just that I’m really not sure this blog is the place to post photos like that. I guess my hesitation should be answer enough, but I haven’t decided yet.

I’ll go ahead and shoot this project regardless, because any idea that keeps nagging at me the way this one has for months needs to be explored. But I wouldn’t mind some feedback on it as well.

Well that’s it for now. Thanks for joining me, I hope you’ll come back again soon. Next time I’ll probably be into my prep work for getting our vegetable garden ready 🙂

You can link your own If We Were Having Coffee post with others on Part Time Monster and don’t forget to share them on Twitter under the hashtag #WeekendCoffeeShare

You create your own post each Each Thursday & put it up on your blog.
Then copy the URL (Web address) to that post & come to my post for that week, click on the blue link-up button at the bottom of the page, and add your URL to the list. Let me know by email if you have any questions. Looking forward to seeing your doors 🙂

Busy busy busy! I ended up needing a nap after reading all you do and will do AND have done. Good grief and God bless!
Meanwhile, the self portrait posts? You might consider a separate blog with link on this one or a (major) disclaimer at the top of the post if you include it here, with another category. It could be of great interest to some. (It would just scare me) 😫. Have fun with fashion and keep those doors coming!

Thanks for the suggestion – I think that might be the ideal compromise.
As for being busy, I don’t know what to say. I’ve always been fairly active. As long as my health is stable and I’m having fun, then it’s working for me 🙂

I went to Portsmouth on Friday just to look for a special door, and I found one. So, I’ll be ready on Thursday to join in. 🙂 Bring the scars and the stories on. I’ve lost two special male friends in my life to heart issues over the past few years. I’m very glad you are a success story so tell us all about it. 🙂

Sounds like you have some great ideas flowing. Thursday doors sounds like fun, I’ll have to wander over and take a peek.
Around here we are excited about the spring time gardening too, just not quite warm enough to begin working the soil.
Thanks for the coffee.

I like this Norm, it’s good to know what you’re up to and it’s good to hear a spring perspective from someone else who is still experiencing cold, albeit not that cold. I’m going to try to hang in with the Thursday doors although I have to back fill with some older photos. My normal work-a-day world and commute doesn’t take me past much of anything with an interesting door,

I really enjoyed the read Norm and I plan on participating in Thursday Doors on a regular basis (I just have to start shooting doors!). I think that any project you have in mind is worth posting, you never know how people will respond. As for myself, I never thought I would have a blog one day. The only reason I got into it was for the 365-Day Photography Project that was strongly suggested to me by an amazing photographer which I admire so much (check her out mimokhairphotography.com, she is on WordPress as well). If it wasn’t for her, I never would have done it but now, I am happy I am doing it. You just never know.
Have a great Sunday
Josee

Thanks for that link Josee, wow she is incredibly talented. I just followed as well.
I’ve always thought about trying a 365 photo project but I must admit it intimidates me a bit. Certainly an endurance project – you’re doing great so far.
And you’re more than welcome to post your doors whenever you want. I look forward to seeing what you come up with.
On another note, some us Montreal area bloggers are thinking about getting together for a meet-up later this spring. Let me know if you’re interested, on here or twitter, and I’ll keep you posted when I have more details.

Absolutely I am interested Norm, let me know when you have more details. If I am available and like the sound of it I will certainly join in.
As for Mimo Khair, I had the incredible chance of attending one of her joint street photography workshop in Dubai last November (it was the most amazing birthday present my husband ever gave me :-). That workshop was hosted by her and http://www.michaelkistlerphotography.com, it was fantastic, I learned so much and they really gave me the boost I needed to push further.
Take care

I love these – I keep thinking I’ll join in, but I reckon I talk too much as it is 😉 As for the scars project, I think that is an excellent idea. And if you are being nagged by it to the point of already shooting it, well, it’s gotta be said. Or shown 😉

If you don’t want to change the flavor of this blog, there is always the option of a second one dedicated just to that more personal work… I struggle with that issue all the time. If you’re anything like me, I can’t be bothered to admin two blogs, but I struggle with having all sides of my personality in one place. The goofball me next to the erotica? Hm. I may have lost a following by opening up, but- I’m very much a ‘what you see is what you get, and if you don’t like it, then git’ person 😉

I agree with Felicity … it appears that your scars are shouting at you to tell their stories. Don’t ignore the shouts.
I remember reading once that scars are evidence of victories won in life. I’m sure it will be compelling reading if/when you do decide to share their stories.